Our almost 11 month old is socialized. Does great at the vet and although a little Leary in public, she is doing great…. EXCEPT, when we are at home, she is always on high alert to ANY noise, even those on the television. She tries to run to her crate, and not me. I am with her 24/7 and her “person”, but it bothers me she doesn’t find comfort in me, or perhaps is she just independent?
Also, she enjoys my husband and son when we get up. They interact with her about 15-30 minutes before they leave for work. But, when they come home, she runs from them, as if they are strangers. Even when they talk softly and let her smell them, she refuses to see them unless I go to them first. I don’t understand!
She does have German shepherd in her.
I’ve worked so hard to make her confident. I’m just feeling a bit of a failure today.
Note: she is not aggressive, does not try to escape her crate, does not chew on thing except her toys or if she find a paper towel ‍�. I mention this because she is quite behaved, but I just wish she was more relaxed. ***Vet has her on Trazadone 100mg 3x/day. (She is STILL fearful)
Please help me to help her!!!

I'm with you on this.  I have a highly social (but not necessarily socialized) Alaskan Husky ... I've been tempted to get DNA work done on him but I'm afraid of what I'd come up with.

Avalanche loves people, anyone!  But he's also very much his own dog.  We've got some heavy winds today and my water catchment roof is rumbling so he's staying close to me.  (( see this example but my roof isn't a steep ))  But then he's noise shy anyway.  When there's thunder roaming around, he's about as far under my stool as he can get.

Why she's shy with family members, at her age, is completely beyond me - and maybe beyond reason.  If your husband and son work in a garage or someplace where they become "noxiously smelly" I might under her reluctance to "know them" but I'd figure that she'd know their voices.  The part of her that's GSD might be a bit of the reason but I still don't understand her not recognizing voices.

If she were straight Husky, I'd say that this is all VERY unusual, Husky's aren't typically standoffish and even less so when they get to know you.  The Shepherd might be the cause for alerting on things and she can't protect you if she's right beside you ... but I really have no idea.

Im going to comment on the gsd side specifically here. I hate to say you are describing a german shepherd with some confidence issues. You didnt mention how long you have had said pup. I would guess something in a home involving a man scared the shit out of her or your dealing with eastern bloc lines. I personally would be curious because the 3 variations of gsd have very different medical issues that pop up along with very different personality traits. Depending on the line your dog might just be on edge for not having a job. You can be her person without being in charge. Not gonna pry or make assumptions but if you get stressed when they get home and she picks up on it and doesnt think your in charge.... that explains alot.

And to piggyback al, smells might be the issue. Any chance she had covid and lost her sense of smell? Also you mentioned the vet but with being both sibe and gsd you are looking at potential eye issues like pra and pannus did anyone really check her vision. Also german shepherds can be prone to being deaf.

This may make you feel better or worse but i have a purebred with czeck lines. He loves my hubby but as a puppy and young adult he wanted nothing to do with him (he is 8 now) he has bit 8 people (all men) and now that he is blind any noise sends him on patrol and barking. If something scares him or bothers him he goes in the bedroom to his blanket, not to me. My dog has been around bombs and been on helicopters but goes apeshit when our neighbor buzzes the house with his ww2 plane.

So yeah for a husky your dog isnt right, for a gsd something still feels off. My opinion would be consultant a veterinary behavioral specialist after eliminating any ear or eye issue, and work on some confidence and trust building exercises. And if you do the exercises make sure everyone that is around her participates, not just you. I would also have them, not you feed her. German shepherds take work or you end up with a dangerous dog.

We have had her since 8 weeks. We got her from an EXCELLENT breeder. (I did tons of research) She was timid from the day we brought her home. I have worked tirelessly with her to build confidence. Planes freaked her, but we are doing great on that and that’s huge considering we are in crop duster alley! I’ve worked hard at being the leader. She waits at doorways, waits for food, follows me around, looks to me when off leash outside, checks in on me. I’m just at a loss because my last GSD mix was a dream. This girl has me scratching my head. No two days are alike, even though I am consistent. There is one other thing I’m working on and it’s bossy side. If she doesn’t get her way, she nips my hands, then runs. That behavior was completely under control and in the past two weeks, is back. ‍� Vet has tested her eyes and hearing….. perfect. Also checked for hyperkinesis but everything medically is textbook perfect. I did not think about it, but I do get edgy when hubby/son return home only due to added activity in house when I’m trying to unwind. (I know, sounds selfish, but they come home sometimes 10-11 pm.) I’ve had other dogs, but I’ve never felt so inadequate as I do with her.
Her dad was full blood AKC GSD, mom was Sib Husk with total of 11% other mixes such as Saluki, Border Collie, and Boston Terrier. Vet said I have anxiety mixes in one )
Thank you for your insight!!!

Your vet is correct on anxiety mixes. An "excellent" breeder doesn't mix breeds. Especially dogs like those because you are asking for there to be questionable personality traits that are not wholly controllable through socialization and desensitization. Siberians and Border Collies are high strung dogs that need a lot of stimulation and exercise. GSDs have a propensity to have anxiety and questionable personalities depending on the lines, Bostons and Saluki's are anxiety dogs as well.

It's just potentially the way she is going to be to an extent. You can try to desensitize and routine some things like your husband and son returning home such as having a treat jar at the door and having them give her one when they return to assist in breaking the return anxiety, but if they could potentially be picking up questionable smells at work the only real thing you might be able to try is having them swap out cloths in the garage or something before coming in the house, but that's a lot of hassle.

Another way to teach independence is send her to doggy daycare a couple times a week. Too much time at home and too much time with you or her crate as a crutch can allow her to not conquer fears. Disrupting everything by leaving her places that have a lot of smells and stimulation can help pull her from her shell. I grew up training hunting dogs and we would expose them to loud sudden noises from the time they were pups to get them used to the guns. We would take them to race tracks, randomly drop pots and pans in the kitchen, go shooting with them. They would get rewards during loud noise events to encourage ignoring it and not running from it.

Lastly, at 11 months old she's a teenager essentially. Sibes and sibe mixes go through that bratty teen stage where they kinda lose their minds and training momentarily flies out the window. Just keep up your consistency and weather the storm. It should pass in the next several months and then one day some of the hissy fits will calm down along with the nipping. That said, huskies will throw tantrums forever. I have a nearly 13 year old that will stomp her feet and throw herself down on the floor dramatically if she doesn't get to go outside precisely when she wants to.

Wow! Thank you for the information!! I don’t feel so overwhelmed. The breeder we got her from strictly breeds GSD, AKC, but had the SH as her daughter’s pet. Mating happened by accident. Both parents had such good temperaments. The breeder was forthcoming as she offered a DNA test and didn’t charge, considering both mom and dad were not AKC. My girl is the largest of the liter. She is knocking on 80 pounds, vet estimates she will probably be 90. She is also 28” shoulder to floor. I REALLY appreciate your wisdom and encouragement. I’ve never had this mix so I feel “stupid” compared to her intelligence at times.. I have hope now that “maybe” things will get better. I will start taking her more places, with treats in hand, and have a treat jar at the back door. I will also look into daycare. You have awesome advice! Thanks again!

@Shandawn sounds alot like spider although sometimes non verbal 3 yr old is a better description. And spider turns 7 in feb. Atleast your dealing with 100% dog.

And doggy daycare might do it.